Even in college basketball, there’s room for fundamentals. After lifting weights before practice on Thursday, the women’s basketball team started its on-court drills with a few minutes of lay ups. During the practice, the team also spent time working on free throws.

But the players didn’t just go through the drills. They had to update the coaching staff on how well they did.

The team received a scare when senior Ashley Key hit the scorer’s table hard, then fell to the floor. She sat out for the rest of the day’s practice.

As the team worked on its full-court press, coach Kay Yow voiced instructions to her team.

“Don’t get beat on the dribble,” Yow said. “And make them go to the other side.”

Yow and associate head coach Stephanie Glance continued to instruct their players on how to execute their full-court press. Then Yow further boiled down her message for players as to how they should be playing defense.

“Everybody’s moving,” Yow said.

Yow even walked through the drill, showing her team how to cut off the baseline in the press as freshman Megan Zullo brought the ball up.

The team also worked on its half-court game during the workout.

Yow cited to her team the fact that other teams score against N.C. State almost every time they bring the ball down the lane to the basket.

“Get them out of this lane,” Yow said.

Senior guard Danielle Wilhelm and senior center Gillian Goring sat out parts of practice, watching from the scorer’s table because of injuries.

After a three-woman weave drill, Yow called her team together in a circle to close practice. She spoke with her players, telling them they had worked hard. But she also said there’s still work to be done.

“We have to keep getting better,” Yow said.

Following her remarks, she and the players brought their circle closer together, locking arms and praying. Then they gave a passionate chant before stretching.

“Wolfpack women on the way to No. 1 together. Wolfpack,” the team yelled as it broke out of its huddle.

After practice, the team’s six freshmen were not available to speak to the media.

“I hope it won’t be too long. I don’t want them to have a lot of pressure on [them] right now, speaking for anything. They are overloaded.”

With basketball and academics for them to focus on, Yow said she doesn’t want to put anything else on her first-year players’ plates.

She also said she wants them to become an integral part of the program before they speak on behalf of it.

“I want them to become [a part] and get into the swing of things and be [a] solid part before they just start speaking on our behalf,” Yow said.

As for whether it would be closer to the start of regular season play or the start of ACC play when the freshmen would be available, Yow hinted toward the latter timetable.

“Maybe closer to ACC,” Yow said.